Hope in the Ruins

Daily Devotional: Read Zechariah 2:1–13

According to a recent Gallup poll, 69 percent of Americans believe in angels. That number is down from 79 percent in 2001. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a spiritual realm that does include angels. In Zechariah 2, we read about two different angels who delivered a message from the Lord to Zechariah. This chapter focuses on the message of the second angel.

The angel came with an encouraging message. Despite the seemingly small and powerless appearance of the city of Jerusalem, it had a bright future. The city did not have any walls, the Temple was under construction, and many Israelites had decided to stay in Babylon instead of returning to their homeland. Yet the angel said the future Jerusalem would be a city without walls—not because it was so small but because it was so large! There would be so many people they could not be contained within walls (v. 4). Instead, the Lord “will be a wall of fire around it” (v. 5).

God would dwell with His people: “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people” (v. 11). The promise God made to Abraham would be fulfilled, “all peoples on earth” would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:3).

To all nations...

Today, the church is called to take the gospel to all the nations (Matt. 28:19). During the millennial kingdom, Jesus will reign over a renewed Israel in Jerusalem and the nations will stream to His presence (Isa. 2:2–4; 49:22–23; 60:10–11). This future hope should inspire us to faithfulness and gospel proclamation. Our hope is in the coming of the Lord Jesus! We can “be still before the LORD” (v. 13), trusting in God’s promised future.

Go Deeper

Look again at the description of the future promised by God. How does (or should) this change our perspective on anxiety over the state of the world for those who trust in Jesus?

Pray with Us

O Lord, we thank You for making a way for us to dwell with You. May we seek to proclaim this good news to our hurting world as we look forward to Your kingdom.

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.

Zechariah 2:10

Take me there!